By Marne Cook

Weekly Intern

Bleats, bleats and more bleats are the sounds that will fill the air on Lopez Island on May 12 by the furry animals that will be gathered near the Community Center.

Don’t miss the Lopez Lamb, Wool and Goat Festival this weekend. Much fun, entertainment and learning can be had at this event. From 10 a.m. -3 p.m., demonstrations of meat cutting, making cheese, backpacking with goats, sheep-shearing are just a few of the activities available. There is even a scavenger hunt for the younger children.

Island Fiber, Saddleback Ranch, and the Agricultural Resources Committee of San Juan County are the groups responsible for organizing and sponsoring this festival. This is the second year of the Lopez Lamb, Wool and Goat Festival. The main goal of this festival is to promote an awareness of the agriculture in the San Juan County and to enhance the appreciation of how important it is to the quality of life.

“It brings in so many issues, including food security and local food, stewardship of and harmony with our physical environment, and the satisfaction of working hard and seeing the fruits of one’s labors,” said Maxine Bronstein, the co-owner of Island Fiber.

At 5:30 p.m., after these free demonstrations are over, a ticketed dinner will be served by Orcas chef Christina Orchid. Following this Lopez lamb and organic produce dinner, local art will be auctioned off and all the proceeds from the dinner and auction will be donated to the Lopez Farm-to-School Program.

“My favorite part of the festival is that it involves the whole Lopez community in an event that is fun and educational. It is so wonderful to be a part of a community of people doing what we love as our lives’ work,” Bronstein said.

The Lopez Lamb, Wool and Goat Festival is an hand-on learning experience open to all. For additional information contact Island Fiber at dhayward@rockisland.com.